I'm sort of half on board with this juice idea, because, it can taste really good, and as a grazer, I'm always in need of a healthful, convenient snack. I'm also a pretty negligent vegetable-eater (at least by LA standards) so getting my greens in liquid form is an easy way to get started on the right foot in the morning. So I'm going to shine a light on my two favorite green drinks at the moment. The Kale Lemon Ginger Apple Juice is bright and acidic, but with enough sweetness from the apple juice to balance it out. If you have a cold, the ginger will round-house kick your sinuses, in a good way. The Green Monster smoothie is probably my favorite thing at the moment. It's filling, creamy, and has a hint of coconut flavor which, though it doesn't seem like a natural pairing with kale and parsley, is the perfect flavor to counter that intense "green" flavor. The frozen banana, "There's always money in the banana stand" jokes not withstanding, adds richness and depth to this layered smoothie.
Both take minutes to make and are absolutely delicious, down to the last sip. Enjoy!
Green Juice
For 1 16 oz juice, about 200 calories
3 kale leaves, center rib removed and roughly chopped
1 1/2 cup apple juice (organic, unsweetened)
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
1 inch nub of ginger (peeled)
Lay the kale leaves flat on your cutting board. Run the blade of your knife vertically down the side next to the stem to remove one side of the leaf, then repeat the process on the other side of the stem to remove the other portion of the leaf. Repeat the process on the other leaves, and then discard the stems.
Chop the kale leaves into large pieces (approximately one to two inches square). Add half of the chopped kale to the blender, along with the apple juice, lemon juice, and ginger.
Blend the kale until the leaves break down completely. Pour through a strainer and transfer the kale juice to a large glass and enjoy!
Green Monster Smoothie
For 2 12 oz smoothies, about 200 calories per smoothie
5 pieces Kale, stem removed, leaves roughly chopped or torn
1 small handful parsley
2 frozen bananas, peeled and chopped up
1 tart apple (I like pink ladies), cored and chopped
2 cups Almond Coconut milk (I use Blue Diamond brand, but you can also make your own by mixing almond and coconut milk)
Pop the ingredients in a blender, and go from mix to liquify in steps. Let it blend on liquify (or the highest setting) for 30 seconds. The trick to this smoothie is REALLY blending it. Taste and add more almond/coconut milk if you like a thinner consistency.
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